​Stress, anxiety and depression are part of your body’s system to handle life’s curve balls. Imagine that when too much stress builds-up, it overflows into the “Anxiety Bucket”. As we continue to experience stress, the anxiety bucket overflows into the “Depression Bucket”.

These symptoms are part of your body’s dashboard for mental health. The symptoms are warnings that it’s time to address the stress in your life. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, 18% of Americans experience symptoms of anxiety or depression each year (Facts and statistics, 2017), few realize that these are treatable. For comparison, 11.6% of Americans got the cold in December 2014 (Riffkin, 2015).

Typical treatment for anxiety or depression involve medication and psychotherapy. Doctors prescribe medications for three to six months that affect how our neurons receive serotonin and dopamine. These are often effective in lowering symptoms but side-effects make this a short-term treatment. Psychotherapy involves addressing the source of stress and natural methods for managing symptoms.

If you know someone experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression, contact a psychotherapist and start treatment right away. Life is too short to live in the shadow of chronic stress.